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Chapter 1: What are the popular destinations for post-Leaving Cert holidays this year?
Week three of the Leaving Cert kicked off yesterday. For many, the exams are nearly over, which means one thing, freedom. Many will be taking a well-deserved post-Leaving Cert holiday with friends, and they aren't the only cohort of young people who'll be travelling abroad this summer, with large numbers also heading off on their J1 or working holiday visas.
An exciting time, but it'll also be one filled with concerns and worries for both the traveller and their family at home. To ease those worries, the Department of Foreign Affairs has launched the Make the Right Memories campaign. And in a moment, we'll speak to the head of the department's consular directorate, Fiona Pennellar.
But first, to find out the hot spots for Leaving Cert holidays this year, I'm joined by Linda Jones from the Travel Boutique in Bray. Morning, Linda.
Good morning, David.
How are you? You've helped lots of school leavers book their end of exams holiday over the years. What are the most popular destinations this year?
Well, it can vary from year to year, but this year I found Zante was one of the main destinations that everybody wanted to head to. And Albufeira in Portugal is another very popular hotspot.
Okay, and how does it usually work? Do they come in in a group and look for advice or do they always come in with that idea in their head?
Well, sometimes they have the idea in their head and other times they're open to looking at other destinations. But the planning starts really early. They're kind of in from the end of August, beginning of September. And everything is booked by kind of the first or second week of September for the leaving search. They don't leave it to chance or take a late deal.
Presumably, I mean, is there a lot of demand for the type of places they'd be going?
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Chapter 2: How do students typically plan their end-of-exams holidays?
I think they have to just make sure they have proper travel insurance in place. It's just so important just in case anything happens. And I just always say to them to stay together and just never leave somebody on their own. You know, if somebody wants to leave the party early, they should always have somebody else with them and just to mind their drinks and not leave them unattended.
And the other thing is just not to bring a lot of valuables with them because your travel insurance doesn't cover valuable items. So if you have an expensive phone or expensive trainers and everything, you're better off just to leave them at home and not have to worry about them and just bring the cheaper version.
Yeah, make sure you have your mobile charged up as well.
Exactly. I'd say they're one step ahead. They'll have two or three power banks just in case.
Absolutely. But you have to be careful with them as well. The airlines aren't all that keen on them. But anyway, am I right in saying, Linda, that sometimes, you know, Mammy and Daddy might, particularly Mammy possibly, might be worried about letting their little darling go abroad. Some of them might try to keep a very close eye on them.
They are, yeah. I mean, we do have some parents that will actually travel to the destination. Sometimes, you know, even if the child doesn't know, but they might go to a different resort nearby just so that they're in the country should the need arise.
Okay, very good. Well, there's no harm in being prepared, I suppose. And what do you hear back from the people you deal with in these various resorts? Do the Leaving Cert students have a good reputation?
I don't find there's any problem, David. They're all quite sensible now and they go off with a good group of friends and we don't get any hassle really or hear of much happening. People, when they're away, they just go away and have a good time together. I think probably even just going for five or six days or a week is enough. They can just get partied out and tired after that time.
And it's just once they get away for the few days together, they're all happy enough.
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Chapter 3: What safety advice do travel experts give to young travelers?
So I really would say, And overall, from a reassurance point of view, that young people travelling abroad are very safe. They really do work together. And it's brilliant to see that they do support and mind each other.
That's the most important thing. Fiona Pendler, head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades, consular director. Thank you so much for that. And I've got to give the website address again. It's Ireland.ie forward slash travel wise. So you can go there for more information.